Former Henryetta high school tennis coach Mike Kennedy is going to be inducted into the Oklahoma Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
mike kennedyKennedy came to Henryetta in 1963 and was a common sight at the tennis courts until 1979.
Along the way, he recorded 28 individual and state championships as well as six state runner up honors. In 1977, Kennedy was the coach that had both boys and girls state titles brought back to Henryetta.
Even though is retired now, he can still be found on the Dr. Carlton Smith Tennis Courts working and talking with today’s tennis players.
Kennedy has been involved with the youth summer tennis program and says he has taught the sport to several thousand children. That 57-year-old program has provided instruction as well as even giving tennis rackets, balls and even shoes to the players. He is one of the driving forces behind the Henryetta Tennis Association that raised nearly $300,000 to put a new playing surface, fencing and pavilion at the facility.
The hall of fame induction will cap off an afternoon of celebration at the Quail Creek Country Club in Oklahoma City Feb. 11.
Joining him this year as inductees will be Phil Barnes, Gene Land, Bill Nelson, Raymond Kelly and Frank Ward.